Committee for the Defence of
Human Rights (CDHR) has reacted to the approval of foreign treatment for
former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It said the state of the health
sector in Nigeria was “gross violation of the Nigerians’ constitutional right
to life”.

The group lamented that the
situation was responsible for the avoidable deaths of millions of citizens, especially
the low and middle class, children and other vulnerable Nigerians.

CDHR also called for the
resignation of the Minister for Health, Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole.

In a statement by National
Publicity Secretary, Henry Peter Ekine, the group noted that “the many trips by
the political class, including the President, and now Dr. Ekwueme (former Vice
President) for medical treatment abroad is a clear demonstration that the
President and the Federal Government have no interest in the development of the
health sector.”

“While the political class could
easily access and fund medical care abroad, most times with state funds, the
low and middle class are usually left to their fate and their inability to fund
foreign medical care; thus the rising level of avoidable deaths of vulnerable
Nigerians, especially in the rural areas.”